Leading European regional body explains how it seeks to include weather phenomena (storms, high winds, foods, etc.), public in major adaptation and resilience decision making the change in wave patterns, and the concentration of population and infrastructure in this area, are factors that increase the vulnerability of the coast. On 29 April 2013 the European Commission launched the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change. Adapting to climate change, such as greenhouse gas mitigation, is The strategy analyses a total of 11 natural systems and not only an environmental problem; it also has an economic dimension. It must therefore socio-economic sectors. It should be mentioned that be treated as a whole by the environmental authorities and those in charge of economic water is the most vulnerable resource having direct policy. In fact the cost of not adapting to the impact of climate change in Europe has consequences for other sectors. The forestry sector has been assessed at 100 million euros by the year 2020. This huge fgure is the economic the most knowledge on the impact of climate change, appraisal made by the European Environment Agency, taking into account fooding, the whereas the socio-economic sectors either do not know effects on coastal areas, the energy required for cooling and heat wave mortality. about adaptation or do not include it in their future strategies. Vulnerability to environmental threats, along with their identifcation and magnitude according to the different European biogeographical regions (Mediterranean, Alpine, Of the 63 impacts described in the strategy as a result of Boreal, Continental, Atlantic, etc.) largely depends on the degree of exposure and climate change, 32 are impacts already observed (major on both physical and socio-economic sensitivity. Adaptation therefore requires local increase in temperature, increase in sea level, variability (cities), regional and national strategies to meet the challenge posed by climate in precipitation, changes in agricultural production, fewer change successfully. days with snow, etc.). Thus, climate change in Catalonia is not imagined, it is a reality that must be recognised Far from being mere guidelines for Member States, the EU strategy establishes duties and faced. The ESCACC thus includes a total of 182 and deadlines for their undertaking. So, for example, by 2017, all Member States must adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability to the have adopted an adaptation strategy, or, by 2020, cities of over 150,000 inhabitants impact of climate change: 152 specifc measures for the must have adopted an adaptation strategy. various sectors/systems and 30 cross-cutting measures related to R&D&I, knowledge transfer and training. Regional action to adapt to climate change: Catalonia Aware of this fact, and in advance of the established deadlines, Catalonia approved the Finally, it is important to note that, given the eminently Catalan Strategy for Adapting to Climate Change (ESCACC) in November 2012. This local component of adaptation to climate change, public strategy highlights the Pyrenees and the Catalan coast, particularly the Ebro Delta area, participation is essential, either at an individual level or as the geographical areas that are most vulnerable. In the Pyrenees, the anticipated through civil organisations and associations. Throughout increase in average temperature is +2.5ºC by the middle of the century. With respect the process of drawing up the Catalan strategy, particular to the coast, the rise in sea level, signifcant in the Ebro Delta, the increase in extreme attention was paid to this aspect and, as a result, over 428 proposals were received. Such efforts must continue if we wish to achieve the objective of building a society The Catalan Ofce for Climate Change that is more resilient to climate change. The Catalan Ofce for Climate Change is the Government body in charge of promoting the defnition of a Catalan policy on www.gencat.cat/canviclimatic climate change agreed by all stakeholders and assessing its implementation in order to reduce the vulnerability of Catalan society as a whole, while fostering its skills.